DAYCATION—CRYSTAL RIVER & CENTRAL FLORIDA
Manatee Mania By Carlton Ward Jr., Kevin Mims, Jill Martin & Lauren Tjaden • Text Courtesy Visit Florida
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efore we dive into the water, let’s talk a little bit about what you’re going to see. The West Indian manatees are very large aquatic mammals, weighing in around 1,000 pounds and measuring about 10 feet in length. They are docile, slow-moving swimmers that eat 10 to 15 percent of their body weight daily in aquatic plants. They often surface for air every 30 seconds while active and every 20 minutes while sleeping. Manatees have no natural enemies and the biggest threats to their survival are interactions with watercraft and loss of habitat. They were placed on the endangered species list in 1966 and have since
OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined
been under close watch in order to ensure the survival of the species. Are you ready?
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SNORKEL WITH THE MANATEES The water in the Three Sisters area of the Crystal River was so clear that I might as well have been gazing through air. I could see as many as 20 manatees at one time. Some rested like giant blimps on the river’s bottom, but many were close to snorkelers. I shivered inside my black wetsuit, listening to the quiet sounds of my breathing and the motion of my arms as they pulled me through the water.
Photo by Neel Adsul for Shutterstock
We are fortunate to live in an area surrounded by habitats that manatees love to frequent in the winter. Want to see them for yourself? Here are three easy ways to enjoy these gentle giants in Crystal River and other places nearby.
